Google has accused Microsoft of leaking “highly confidential source code” related to its open-source Android operating system. According to PaidContent, the search giant asked a federal United States International Trade Commission judge to sanction Microsoft after it spilled the beans on Google’s source code to a witness in Microsoft’s ongoing patent battle with Motorola. Reportedly, the witness, Dr. Robert Stevenson, has acted as a consultant for both HP and Microsoft, which Google views as “direct competitors.” Microsoft is suing Motorola because it believes Motorola’s Android-powered smartphones infringe on its patents. Microsoft responded to Google and said that Stenvenson only had “two or three conversations with Microsoft’s outside general counsel regarding a case related to printer technology.” The odd part about the motion is Google’s Android operating system is open source, so it is unclear exactly what “highly confidential” source code Microsoft might have revealed. Microsoft’s official response to the sanction is due by August 15th, PaidContent said.

anyways why is google blabbering lately? anyone has a clue? sanction over sharing open source code?

Anonymous

Sure, Google claims Android is “open-source.”

http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

How can you steal something that is “open?”. I know Google knows how to steal things (iOS) and call them open….but if it’s “open” I just don’t get it

Anonymous

Android itself is open source. However, not all the apps and additional functions that Google wrote and bundle with it are open source.

Anonymous

I don’t believe “source code” reffers to the google app bundle.

Anonymous

There are additional non-app proprietary features that are not part of the app bundle. For instance, anything involving syncing to Google services would come to mind. These would be “RELATED to Android” — as the first sentence of this posts says — without having to be open source.

http://www.vgchartz.com SuperChunk

It seems obvious from the article that it is not referring to Android itself but the cloud printing code that is not part of the open source.

Anonymous

Or gapps

http://www.facebook.com/cameronlee.ya Cameron Lee

I know. I don’t get why other people can’t see that. What I’m wondering is why does Microsoft have this code.?

Anonymous

From the source, it appears that it was subpoenaed. Some time after that, the code was leaked… “accidentally” I suppose.

Bringit

Code that was originally stolen from Apple.

Anonymous

not like apple hasen,t stolen anything from google….

Tony Allen

Not like Google actually stole anything to begin with.

http://www.adammiarka.com Adam Miarka

But Android is “open”! :-)

Anonymous

“so it is unclear exactly what “highly confidential” source code Microsoft might have revealed”
The one it stole?

Anonymous

The confidential source code was probably ICS

Anonymous

If Google says it I, then the rest of the Goofan (aka Apple Hater) nation believes it to be true! Google doesn’t lie. Google is a truthful, open and free organization.

I challenge anyone here to prove us otherwise!

http://profiles.google.com/gscholton Graham Scholton

For security purposes, there will always be certain parts of the code that are not released to github

I love iTards like you that haven’t a clue about the real world.. hope you have a blissfully ignorant day!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IC7DZDK24C4LNOWEK7ATVKPYSY Edgar Contreras

I justpaid $22.85 for an iPad2–64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38.76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $674 which only cost me $62.81 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, CentHub.com

http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

Please go play in traffic, seriously

Anonymous

Wow Google is just whining all over the place lately, I don’t understand why they think this is a good idea, well like bidding Pi for patents was a “good” idea. This is the 2nd time in a week they’ve called out Microsoft and tried to sling mug and it sure doesn’t seem to be working. Do Evil?

Jermajesty

I bet it is related to Exchange ActiveSync support. Motorola Android phones are the only Android phones that can bring html email across from older Exchange servers. I am not sure if Android’s mail application is open, but if it’s closed and Microsoft is trying to show that Moto does EAS different than all the other Androids and in a way that infringes that would explain a little bit.

http://MobileGenius.wordpress.com JM

Is MS under some sort of legal obligation to protect a competitor’s secrets?

I’m heartbroken! Now it seems that Google is having to fight it’s own partners, check appleinsider. This could fall apart pretty quickly if Google doesn’t invoke it’s God powers. I’m in pain and so is the Google (aka Apple Hater) Nation.